Excalibur

Rating:
Summary: THE LEGEND LIVES ON
Review: This movie is by far the best on-screen adaptation of the legend that there is. The dark mood evoked by the clever use of eerie lighting, brilliantly timed scores by Wagner and Carl Orff, and the extraordinary cast brings so much truth and feeling to this film. It's been one of my all-time favourites for as long as I can remember, and I think it's got the potential to capture even today's new audience.

Rating:
Summary: Which is the best Arthurian Legend filmatization?
Review: (...)

As for the film "King Arthur", for being a Jerry Bruckenheimer-production, it actually wasn't too bad. The theory that inspired the story was serious and interesting (and very probable in my opinion), but the script itself was pretty thin, sure Kiera Knightley (or however you spell it) was great, and Stellan was cool as the Saxon chief, and they actually tried to make it authentic with the Woads speaking their old toungue etc. but it has nothing on the original!

I mean....
It's MAJESTIC, MAGIC, EPIC, DARK, TERRIFYING and BEAUTIFUL.
It probably has some of the most beautiful frames in movie history - you just wanna pause the film and look at the pictures!
And the score is THE all-time best -without a doubt- now isn't that enough to put it on the top-100 list?! In my opinion YES!

(...)

"Be silent! Be still! Now, look upon this movie... savour it! So you can say: I was there, that day, with Arthur, the King! For it's the doom of men, that they forget..." that's what Merlin would've told you (not an exact quote though, sorry bout that)

Rating:
Summary: Too much story for the movie
Review: The story of Camelot is a wonderful one. The problem is, there are too many characters and far too many events and story-arcs to fit into a movie of a reasonable length. This movie became long and it still was not enough time for anything like sufficient character development and sufficient character interaction. The next time someone tells this story using this medium, I hope that they either create a miniseries or limit the story with respect to point of view. So many different point of views are fascinating: Arthur's, Merlin's, Morganna's, Guinevere's, Mordred's, Lancelot's, even Percival's.

It's always a bad sign in a movie when the music gets louder.
It means that the music is trying to generate the emotion which is missing from the characters and their interactions.

Still, there were some very nice bits. I liked how Arthur asked to be knighted and I liked the story bit about Uther.

Rating:
Summary: One of the worst films I have ever seen
Review: Some years ago I got dragged to see this movie. The next day I mentioned to my boss I had just seen what might be the worst movie ever made. His reply was that no, he had been forced to sit through the worst he had ever seen, mine couldn't be as bad. To make a long story short, we had both seen Excalibur.

Rating:
Summary: INFLUENTIAL
Review: When cable was in it's infancy, this movie was a mainstay on the premium channels. I was mezmerized by this movie. My favorite part is the ride through the cherry trees, with the petals floating in the air. The music in that scene("Carmina Burana, Wheel of Fortune")is beyond stirring, it makes me want to get into some platemail and ride a horse.


Rating:
Summary: Forged by a god, foretold by a wizard, forever found on DVD!
Review: +++++

This is a movie about King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. Thus, it is a movie about wizards, kings, queens, warriors, swords, sorcery, and desire. It can also be thought of as an epic tale of rape, war, incest, regret, and ultimately redemption.

This movie begins with some written text:

"The land was divided and without a king.
Out of those lost centuries rose a legend...
Of the sorcerer Merlin,
And the coming of a King,
Of the sword of Power...
Excalibur."

All the elements of Sir John Malory's 1485 book or "compilation" entitled "Le Morte D'Arthur" ("The Death of Arthur") from which this movie is adapted are here:

(1) The lust that leads to Arthur's father (Gabriel Byrne) giving up the infant Arthur to the cunning wizard Merlin (Nicol Williamson)
(2) Arthur (Nigil Terry) removing the sword "Excalibur" from the stone and so becoming King of Camelot
(3) King Arthur taking his queen, Guenevere (Cherie Lunghi)
(4) The love triangle that develops between King Arthur, Guenevere, and Sir Lancelot (Nick Clay)
(5) The Round Table's birth and eventual decline
(6) The attempts to recover the Holy Grail
(7) The power shift between Merlin and the evil sorceress Morgana (Helen Mirren)
(8) The battle between King Arthur's forces and his son Mordred's (Robert Addie) forces.

All the above actors and the ones not mentioned do good jobs in their roles. Nigil Terry as King Arthur and Nicol Williamson as the sly and humorous Merlin do especially good jobs. Look for Liam Neeson (this was his second movie) and "Star Trek's" Patrick Stewart (his fourth movie) in small but notable roles.

The cinematography of this movie is visually stunning. Battle scenes are well done. The scenes involving "The Lady of the Lake" are also well done. All costumes are authentic looking especially the battle armor.

The music is exhilarating. The main background music is that of composer Richard Wagner and that of composer Carl Orff. Watching King Arthur and his warriors go off to battle with Orff's composition "O Fortuna" as the background music is unforgettable!

Finally, the DVD extra where there is a commentary by director John Boorman is very detailed and interesting. Be aware that this commentary is as long as the movie.

In conclusion, good acting, amazing cinematography, and exhilarating music make this an unforgettable movie!!

(1981; 2 hr, 20 min; 44 scenes; rated R; widescreen; color)

+++++


Rating:
Summary: EXCALIBUR (ORION PICTURES/1981)
Review: Beautifully filmed adaptation of the King Arthur legend by master director Boorman ("DELIVERANCE" "HOPE AND GLORY", etc.) captures the blood and guts realism of battle as knights in full body armor clash on horseback and in fields of combat while awaiting the coming of a prophesied King who would unite all of England under one Banner. And so the viewer watches as a Saul-like figure named Uther becomes ruler only to lose his kingdom to the lust of his own pride and flesh. The offspring of his doom becomes the legendary King Arthur who is taken under the wing of Merlin a sorcerer in an age where "the one God comes to drive out the many gods". One of the delights of Boorman's "EXCALIBUR" is in Nicol Williamson's playful performance as Merlin who remains omnipresent even as he weaves in and out of the story foretelling, interfering, wisecracking, leading, guiding, and contending with the evil Morgana, Arthur's sister (a chilling Helen Mirren). The movie is worth watching for his performance alone. Also notable is Nigel Terry in the role of Arthur who first appears as an absent minded squire yet gradually (and with Merlin's encouragement) grows into a capable and beloved leader. The sumptuous Cherie Lunghi plays Queen Guenevere who becomes the lover of one of the King's best friends, Lancelot. Their adulterous relationship sows the seeds to the kingdom's downfall along with Morgana's insidious plotting which results in an incestuous encounter with King Arthur, the birth of their child Mordred, and an epic final battle which brings the saga to a close. "EXCALIBUR" is a wondrous feast for the eyes that incorporates all the myth and mystery of the Arthurian legend (i.e. the sword in the stone, the Lady Of The Lake, the knights of the round table, the search for the Holy Grail, and Arthur's death journey to Avalon) while reveling in a scrumptious array of scenery and images. The film is an unequivocal success despite a few confusion moments that won't distract those familiar with the story (or with Thomas Malory's "LE MORTE DARTHUR" upon which the screenplay is based), but may cause some to scratch their heads in puzzlement (if only for a moment). LOOK FOR: Liam Neeson, Patrick Stewart, and Gabriel Byrne in early cameos. ULTIMATE GROSS OUT MOMENT: when Perceval confronts the dead corpse of one of the knights hung from a tree by Morgana and a crow pulls the guy's eye out of its socket! HARSH LANGUAGE: none, VIOLENCE: about 16 scenes of bloody violence, NUDITY/SEXUAL SUGGESTIVENESS: about 5 scenes (RATED R/140 minutes).

Rating:
Summary: Cool movie...
Review: I enjoy this movie immensely. This would get 5 starts but it is slow moving in some places. However, the cinematography and story carry this movie. The soundtrack is awesome (especially since I like the pieces in question). The symbolism in this movie is fairly deep as well. Overall great job.

Rating:
Summary: Not a patch on Merlin
Review: I fear I'm going to get an ear bashing when this gets read, and I expect to have just as many people voting against it like my original Dawn of the Dead movie. I LOVED the Merlin TV movie that was made a few years ago with Sam Neill, and that got me interested in seeing other movies about the King Arthur myth/legend. This got recommended, so I really looked forward to watching it. However, I'm sorely disappointed, and hate giving this movie one star, but I can't give it anymore. Anyone who describes this movie as "enchanting, bombastic, captivating, breathtaking, operatic" to quote another reviewer, was obviously not watching the same movie I was. I strongly suggest you watch Merlin. I don't know why, but the scenery was so much more breath taking, and the characters had more of a prescence about them rather than the ones in Excalibur. Sure, it's the same characters, plus a few other British actors. Merlin in this I felt was almost evil. And the rest of the characters were just dull as dishwater. If I could NOT review this movie, and pretend I did like it, I would, but don't make me sit through anymore King Arthur movies. I'll stick to Merlin and be quite happy.

Sorry.

Rating:
Summary: Simply the best movie about life and death of king Arthur
Review: This film has got everything : powerful music from Wagner and Orf , bloody battle scenies ,myths and witchcraft and of course enough sex... So take Excallibur decapitate evil Harry Poter and buy this DVD.